But the murder of Saxena - which in itself must be condemned as heinous - carries deeper, more insidious implications. There is an undeniable tradition of honour killing in India, and this atrocity is often aided by khap panchayats acting like kangaroo courts. However, honour killing - which has spread exponentially, particularly in the north - has usually hinged on caste hatred. In India, the police is an arm of the State, and is often seen to be powerless before its political masters. Thus, it becomes crucial for law keepers to maintain a position of neutrality in a case such as the killing of Saxena.

Source: The Telegraph February 07, 2018 19:18 UTC